Clocks and patterns in myxobacteria: a remembrance of Art Winfree

At the beginning of their aggregation phase waves of cell density sweep across the surface of myxobacteria colonies. These waves are unlike any other in biology. Waves can be linear, concentric or spiral and when they collide, instead of annihilating one another they appear to pass through each other unchanged. Moreover, the wavelength determines the spacing and pattern of fruiting bodies that will rise up presaging sporulation. The explanation for these waves was suggested by the work of Art Winfree on cellular clocks, and confirmed by a mathematical model that explains all of the observed wave behavior. The story of how this model evolved illustrates the roles of chance and scientific networking in the search for the explanation of a new phenomenon.